Volume IV Part 106 (2/2)

My arrival at Milan ell-ti to Paler her before she left I talked to her of the wish of Cesarino to go to sea, and I did all in my power tohiot this idea into his head, but I will never give my consent I hope I shall find him wiser by the time I come back”

She was mistaken My son never altered his mind, and in fifteen years my readers will hear more of him

I settled e on Marseilles, and one of ten thousand francs on Genoa, where I did not think I would have to spend much money In spite of my luck at play, I was poorer by a thousand sequins when I left Milan than when I caant expenditure must be taken into account

I spent all my afternoons with the fair Marchioness sometimes alone and sorief for Cleer charo

I had no need toto take with ht o'clock on theof my departure she waited on me at the count's

I kissed the hand of the woman who had attempted my life, and thanked her for her hospitality, to which I attributed the good reception I had had at Milan I then thanked the count, who said once rateful to me, and thus I left Milan on the 20th of March, 1763 I never re-visited that splendid capital

The young lady, whom out of respect for her and her fa There was an air of nobility and high-bred reserve about her which bore witness to her excellent upbringing As I sat next to her, I congratulated uess that I was mistaken I told Clairmont that she was to be called my niece, and to be treated with the ut with her, so the first thing I did was to test her intelligence, and though I had not the slightest intention of paying my court to her, I felt that it would be well to inspire her with friendshi+p and confidence as far as I was concerned

The scar which lad to think that I should be able to restore the young Marseillaise to the paternal hearth without any painful partings or vain regrets I enjoyed in advance my meritorious action, and I was quite vain to see my self-restraint come to such a pitch that I was able to live in close intiirl without any other desire than that of rescuing her froht have fallen if she had traveled alone She felt my kindness to her, and said,--

”I am sure M de la Croix would not have abandoned me if he had not met you at Milan”

”You are very charitable, but I aood opinion

To my mind Croce has behaved in a rascally manner, to say the least of it, for in spite of your ht to count on me in the matter I will not say that he openly scorned you, since he ht have acted from despair; but I am sure he must have ceased to love you, or he could never have abandoned you thus”

”I am sure of the contrary He saw that he had noforhiht to have sold all he had and sent you back to Marseilles Your journey to Genoa would not have cost one to Marseilles by sea Croce counted on ht; but you reat risk You must not be offended if I tell you the plain truth If your face had not inspired me with a lively interest in you, I should have only felt ordinary co your appeal, and this would not have been enough to force reat sacrifices of ti Croce You are hurt; I see you are still in love with him”

”I confess it, and I pity him As for ain, but I shall never love anyone else, for o into a convent and expiate my sins My father will pardon me, for he is a man of an excellent heart

I have been the victim of love; my as not my own The seductive influence of passion ravishedthat I blaainst it

Otherwise I cannot see that I have sinned deeply, but I confess I have done wrong”

”You would have gone with Croce from Milan if he had asked you, even on foot”

”Of course; it would have been my duty; but he would not expose me to the misery that he saw before us”

”Nay, you were h already I ao with hiet back my reason I am free once more, and the day will cootten him”

Her sincerity pleased me, and as I knew too well the power of love I pitied her from my heart For two hours she told me the history of her unfortunate a for her

We reached Tortona in the evening, and with the intention of sleeping there I told Clair it I was astonished at ood match for me at the meal, for she had an excellent appetite, and drank as well as any girl of her age As ere leaving the table, she made a jest which was so , and her conquest was co my kiss ardently returned, I asked her without any, circu that we should content ourselves with one bed

At this invitation her face fell, and she replied, with an air of submission which kills desire,--